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Dennehy Sisters #3

Forever in My Heart

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Mary Margaret Dennehy, a beautiful, injured New York heiress who cannot remember where she has been, and Colorado rancher Connor Holiday, who cannot forget a passion-filled night in a bordello, are brought together by an arranged marriage. Original.

480 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1994

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About the author

Jo Goodman

60 books479 followers
To find characters to illustrate my first family saga, I cut out models from the Sears catalogue. I was in fourth grade, but it was a start. In seventh grade I wrote a melodrama about two orphan sisters, one of whom was pregnant. There was also a story about a runaway girl with the unlikely name of Strawberry and one about mistaken identities and an evil blind date. My supportive, but vaguely concerned parents, sighed with relief when I announced I was going to write children's books. They bought me an electric typewriter and crossed their fingers, but somehow PASSION'S BRIDE came out. No one was really surprised.
I graduated from Indiana University of Pennsylvania with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and some notion that I would do marine research. Years of competitive swimming didn't help me anticipate seasickness. A career change seemed in order. I began working with adolescents and families, first as a childcare worker and later, after graduating from West Virginia University with a master's degree in counseling, as a therapist. I am currently the executive director of a child caring/mental health agency and find my work and my writing often compliment each other. One grounds me in reality and the other offers a break from it.

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5 stars
312 (44%)
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244 (34%)
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125 (17%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
Profile Image for Misfit.
1,638 reviews354 followers
May 12, 2015
SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS. You have been warned.

The guy: Connor Holiday has just won big at cards and has all the money he needs to buy title to the family ranch in Colorado from his father (who needs cash and is ready to sell it to Maggie's father for railroad right of way). Conner leaves the card game drunk and in need of a woman and lands at the same parlor house Maggie's in, and he's sent to her room by mistake. A drugged up Maggie thinks he's the doctor and does what she's told. It's a long story, but she passes out and Connor wakes some hours later to find Maggie's hands and mouth all over him. Best sex of his life, that is until Maggie disappears and so does his bundle of cash he so desperately needs.

The girl: Mary Margaret (Maggie) Dennehy, daughter of a New York mega tycoon, accidentally wanders into the red-light district whilst playing treasure hunt with her sister (don't ask, just don't ask). After being accosted, drugged and bruised by an evil pimp, she's rescued by a local madam, given a healthy shot of laudanum and tucked safely into bed and a doctor on the way to see to her injuries.

Sooooooooooooooo, out of money and ideas to keep the ranch Connor's father suggests a marriage that will bring it title to the ranch (please don't ask me to explain how that works). Imagine Connor's surprise when his bride turns out to be the "whore" who he thinks stole his money. Imagine Maggie's surprise to be confronted with these facts, since she doesn't remember a thing about that night. At least she doesn't have to worry about how she got pregnant anymore.

You following this, or falling asleep yet?

Anywho, Maggie accepts the marriage *proposal*, but she still wants to pursue her dream of being a doctor (this is set in the 1870s). Maggie's plan - they marry and head for Colorado, Maggie's father is gifting her the ranch he purchased from Connor's father which becomes the husband's property upon the marriage, they'll apply for a divorce and she can then go to medical school and it's a win-win for everyone.

Oh wait, I forgot the bit about Maggie being turned down for medical school, so her plan is to hole up with this reclusive miner who has super awesome medical skill while she's waiting for the divorce. After she learns all his super special skills there's no way the college could turn down her application. Right?

Anyone still with me?

Top all that off with the evil stepmother hot to get into Connor's pants and stir up trouble between Conner and Maggie, and what a lame twist with the stepmother at the end . Gah! I thoroughly enjoyed all three of the recent westerns published by Goodman, and was so tickled to find an older one at the library sale. This might teach me not to be so greedy at the sales. Some books are better left in the past. This is one of them.
Profile Image for Darbella.
635 reviews
December 16, 2022
Mary Margaret Dennehy and Conner. Heroines focus is on being a doctor and healing. OW causes problems but is redeemed by being a completely different person by the end of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Zoe.
766 reviews203 followers
December 30, 2017
This book has got one hell of a premise. I cannot say that I liked how the story began. Mary Maggie was mistaken for a whore in a brothel and Connor was her “customer”. And it was one unforgettable night of course. This is where I am like no way. Maggie was supposed to be drugged and had no recollection of the night. And it just so happened that Maggie’s father and Connor’s father were planning a match between them. Plus The evil but then not so evil ex-fiancé turned step-mother, Maggie’s becoming a doctor in the epilogue, it was all just very unreal and unbelievable.

But I enjoyed Maggie and Connor as characters very much. I liked how they got to know each other and how the relationship developed. It was that alone that I was able to enjoy this book and ignore all the ridiculous plots. This wasn’t very well done as a story, but the characterization and relationship development made the story for me.

Like all Jo Goodman stories, this book also lacked in excitement. It isn’t an exciting adventure but it is a gradually developed love story, just what Jo Goodman is good at and my kind of story.
Profile Image for Isa.
358 reviews12 followers
January 3, 2023
No es el primero de la serie pero sí lo primero que leo de esta autora. Al principio sí noté que me faltaba información sobre todo referente a la vida de los secundarios que son la familia de ella, pero la autora da algunos detalles que te meten en situación, como los orígenes de su familia y las historias de sus hermanas.

Esta es la historia de Maggie y Connor, y la verdad es que me ha gustado mucho. Tienen una forma muy original de conocerse y a partir de ese encuentro todo lo que sucede los lleva a vivir una vida que ninguno imaginaba.

He conectado con los dos y he disfrutado de como se van acercando y lo que al principio empieza como algo no deseado se convierte en una relación en la que sus sentimientos no se ocultan. Me ha gustado esa forma en la que ambos se enamoran y en cuanto tienen la oportunidad de poner voz a lo que sienten lo hacen sin malos entendidos y con la verdad por delante. Un amor a fuego lento que es como más me gusta.

La novela está centrada en ellos y su historia y eso también es un plus, porque así se disfruta más de una pareja bonita y con mucha química. Los secundarios tienen mucho peso pero aportando al libro sin eclipsar la historia principal. Solo tengo un pero y es algo que pasa, algo que comenta un secundario sobre la forma en que se conocieron los protagonistas y que no se aclara cómo pudo saberlo. Es un fleco bastante largo que queda sin aclarar.

Por lo demás, muy buena lectura que me ha hecho disfrutar y conocer a una autora que tiene un estilo que entretiene y engancha 😍.
Profile Image for Lucimar.
569 reviews13 followers
September 1, 2020
A princípio não me agradou muito. Porém resolvi continuar...
A mocinha Mary Margaret é levada para um bordel e perde a virgindade ao dormir com um desconhecido. Por se encontrar dopada pelo ópio, dorme com Conor e no dia seguinte foge para casa. E embora não tenha certeza do que aconteceu, descobre algum tempo depois que está grávida...
Seu pai planeja junto com um amigo seu casamento com o filho deste sem saber de nada. Ela, então descobre, através do próprio Conor que ele é pai da criança que espera...
Mas Mary tem um sonho de se tornar médica, porém como este não deu certo, decide aceitar a proposta de Conor para casar com ele com a condição de que a leve lhe dê o divórcio logo em seguida, deixando na casa de um curador que mora próximo as suas terras para aprender a arte da cura.
Uma história cheia de idas e vindas onde nem tudo é que parecia a princípio.
Para passar o tempo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Rachel.
319 reviews24 followers
July 29, 2021
Book 3 in the series of the 5 Marys!

I had to keep going, but this story seemed to me the most tragic yet.

Mary Margaret, Maggie, wants to be a doctor. She's got the knack for it and waits only for word that she has gotten into medical school. But then, her life takes a sudden turn.

While fooling around with her sister, Maggie gets turned around and ends up in a sketchy part of the city. After getting accosted by some undesirables, the owner of a bordello helps Maggie, giving her a room for the night and sending for a doctor. Meanwhile, she gives her some laudanum to help her sleep.

But then Connor arrives at the bordello seeking a night to celebrate his ability to finally purchase his ranch and forget his troubles that led to his circumstances. An honest mistake leads him to Maggie's room. She thinks he's the doctor. He thinks she's willing. It's all a terrible misunderstanding, but it leaves its impact.

When Maggie wakes, still loopy from laudanum and alcohol, she panics, stuffs her nightgown into the nearest bag, dresses, and flees, determined to forget the entire night.

When Connor wakes, he's convinced Maggie stole his money from him. With bitter defeat, he goes to the man he wants to buy the ranch from--John Mackenzie Worth, Maggie's father.

When he sees Maggie again, he thinks she's one of Jay Mac's servants and is understandably angry about her thievery. He demands his money. But Maggie doesn't remember him or anything he claims she's done with him. She certainly doesn't remember their night together, but her family has suspected things have not been quite right with Maggie since that odd night. Then Maggie discovers--she's with child.

After getting a letter from medical school, Maggie also gets a proposition from Jay Mac and Connor: if she marries Connor, he can get his ranch from him as a wedding gift. Since Maggie feels bad about the money that she still has no memory of and since she needs to get out of town pronto, she lets her family know of her rejection from medical school and marries Connor quickly for her baby's sake. She lets him think she got rid of the baby, and he is doubly enraged at her now.

Oh, the heartache in this one got to me. Maggie had to suffer such trials and cruelty from Connor. It all finally starts looking up for her when she convinces Connor to leave her with a man in the mountains who helped her father in book 2.

The plot continues from there, but that's enough summary. This one, overall, was so tragic and took forever for the leads to work things out. Definitely a darker western romance, for sure. The first book in the series is still my favorite.
Profile Image for Yvonne.
250 reviews1 follower
April 16, 2022
Mary Margaret Dennehy (aka Maggie) was spending time with her youngest sister. When her sister decided to leave her for a friend Maggie got herself turned around and lost in a bad part of New York City. A known pimp got a hold of her and was trying to sell her. Several events happen and by the time Maggie wakes up the next morning she has no idea what happened for a chunk of time.
Connor Holiday had to return to New York because of his father selling his land in Colorado out from underneath him. He was trying to buy the property himself. The two does not have a very good relationship in the first place and this just strains it more. Connor spends a night in a brothel and has his money stolen. So he resorts to an arranged marriage that might help him get his land.
When the two get married they head out to Colorado and that is a whole another adventure on top of even getting to the point of getting married. Things just keep snowballing from here until they finally come to a head and they both have to actually face each other and their real feelings.
It took me a few chapters to be interested in what was going on. The first chapter was downright confusing for me. I am someone who sometimes even if the book isn’t interesting right away that I will continue to read just to see what is going to happen. Thankfully I hung in there and the story started to pick up for me. I did enjoy the happy ending. Beryl was one of those characters that you absolutely love to hate and I am not sure that I understood how she proved to Maggie that she loved Rushton but she did behave better at the end and was easier to not hate. I have read other books by this author and liked them. This one was ok for me but I still plan on reading more by her.
I got this book for free to review from ebook discovery in exchange for an honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Jackie.
Author 8 books159 followers
January 25, 2022
2.5. A bit better than book #2 in the series; at least the male lead apologizes for being an arsehole to the female lead, and the female lead isn't TSTL like her sister in book #2. Mary Margaret (Maggie) wants to go to medical school to be a doctor. But after she ends up , she chooses to get engaged to the man her father has arranged for her to marry, Connor . No wonder their marriage doesn't get off to a happy start! And then they spend months apart, Maggie studying with a hermit skilled in herbal medicine near Connor's Colorado ranch. But after plot incidents bring them back together, they somehow discover that their physical attraction is really love.

Still, not nearly as engaging as Goodman's more recent Westerns.
148 reviews
June 1, 2022
An entertaining and historical romance. This is book 3 in the Series, The Dennehy Sisters.

The setting is in 1880s Colorado.
Mary Margaret(Maggie)Dennehy wants to be a doctor. She is waiting for word if she has been accepted to medical school.
Connor Holiday is rancher and owner of the double H. Maggie and Connor are from prestigious wealthy families. Their parents have prearranged a marriage for Maggie and Connor.

Maggie's only concern is to keep her independence. Connor loves the ranch life but agrees to take Maggie to Colorado.

She can't help but be mesmerized by Connor's charms. and her heart has a serious craving that needs satisfying.
Circumstances change that once they arrive at their destination.
I received this book for free from ebook discovery. I voluntarily post this review and it is my honest review.
Profile Image for Lee.
602 reviews13 followers
March 31, 2022
I thought the plot for this book was very unique. A young woman finds herself lost for hours and can't remember what happened in that time. It makes for an intense story, which ends in a beautiful romance. Maggie wants to be a doctor, and she's determined to be one. When circumstances bring her out west, she learns all she can from the local expert. Connor owns a Colorado ranch, and he finds himself constantly thinking of the beautiful, red-headed Maggie. He doesn't know that his brief encounter with her in New York will change his life. Thanks to Ebook Discovery for the complimentary book, which I enjoyed a lot. I'm happy to review Forever in My Heart, and I recommend it, and look forward to reading more in the series.
Profile Image for Cindy.
1,884 reviews13 followers
January 29, 2025
Copyright 1994. This is the 3rd in the Dennehy Sisters series. This is Maggie's story, the second youngest.
This is a reread for me. I had to buy my paperback used, cause it was out of print by the time I wanted to read it.

The first 2 chapters is the same scene from Connor's & then Maggie's POV. Half the book is set in New York City & a series of coincidence (fate?) leads them to each other. The other half is in Colorado on a remote ranch which Connor calls home.
The story is convoluted, & sometimes angsty. There's plenty of drama & the story kept me interested. JG is a talented author & has a great imagination.
The HEA is satisfying. I liked this story sooo much better than the 2nd book!
Profile Image for N.W. Moors.
Author 12 books159 followers
April 22, 2022
Maggie is the second to youngest Dennehy sister and is determined to become a doctor. A contrived meeting in a bordello leads to a sexual encounter with Connor Holiday (I really didn't like this part as it seemed, as I said above, contrived). However, the book picks up then as the two deal with the fallout.
I loved how Maggie got around learning her medical knowledge; Dancer is such a great character. She and Connor are a great couple though I wasn't fond of the love triangle with Beryl. I'm glad it resolved the way it did; that was deft handling by the author.
It's another good story in this interesting Western series.
53 reviews
December 4, 2018
Great weekend read...😍

I spent the long weekend reading Ms. Goodmans, Dennenhy series and of the five this one is my favourite. Personalities, anger , love, societies moral judgement from that time period are quite vivid. I did wonder about putting newly weds in a luxury train car with only one three- quarters bed for a two week train trip. Didn't make sense.
Herbal medicine was fascinating. Big family dynamic is fun. Poorly Jay Mac was always being blamed for something. Good series! Fun read!
700 reviews7 followers
December 14, 2019
Enjoyable

Mary Margaret Dennehy (Maggie), is the third of 5 sisters. Lost and propositioned, she is taken into a brothel to recover. Unfortunately the brothel keeper does not know her left from her right, so that is how Connor Holiday finds her. When she awakes the next morning in her own home, she has very little memory of the previous night.
As always with Jo Goodman, the dialogue flows easily. Good, colourful characters , I especially liked Dancer who was introduced in the second book in the series.
4,720 reviews40 followers
March 20, 2022
Excellent beyond words!
In this book you have it all danger, misunderstandings, anger, mistrust, confusion, and so much more. The way the hero and heroine were written was grand but the whole cast of characters blew me away they were so good. Some serious issues in this book were handled well and the author did such a good job keeping the reader on their toes. Excellent book and I am so glad I picked up this arc. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery and voluntarily chose to review it.
2,440 reviews28 followers
April 11, 2022
Although I enjoyed some parts of this story, I found the pace of the first half quite slow. Once Maggie and Connor had reached their destination, events moved up a pace. At first, I could connect with the main characters, they were two very stubborn people, it did improve once they decided to be honest with each other. I did think the sudden change in one character at the end, a little unbelievable. I received a copy via eBooks Discovery and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Terryan.
742 reviews
September 25, 2022
Good read, kept me interested. The story is sort of a hate to love, marriage of convenience relationship. She stumbles into a House of Ill Repute, drugged, in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up in bed with a customer. He can't forget the night of passion nor the fact that his money was stolen. To save his ranch he now has to marry the bastard daughter of one of the city's richest men. He realises she is the woman he was with in the bordello, she has no recollection. Together they try to make things work and each achieves their main aim in life.
Profile Image for Chanel.
1,833 reviews
October 26, 2019
4.25 Stars. This time it’s Mary Margaret “Maggie” turn to be the centered of attention of her father,Jay Mac, as he tries to play matchmaker once again. This time it’s with a business associate’s son, Connor Holiday. Little does her father know or for that fact Maggie know, these two already knows each other in the “biblical sense”.
Like with the previous books, the main couple met in an unusual fashion, but this has to be the most extraordinary circumstance. Unlike the other books, this starts right off with some between the sheets action. I found Chapters 1 and 2 to be very cleverly written, explaining different views by the characters involved.
There were a few twist and turns that weren’t really unexpected. What was unforeseen, was the most dramatic character change I have ever read about in a book. It totally blew my prediction on how a certain lost object reappearance would be revealed.
There is a strong supporting cast representing family loyalty and drama.
You do get to catch up some with the sisters, especially Michael. Even though there is less action and mystery than the first two books, this is an entertaining read.
Profile Image for Joyce.
66 reviews32 followers
January 31, 2023
I started to give only 4 stars… the beginning was a little difficult to believe or appreciate, but after sticking with it to the end I have to say I enjoyed the book quite a lot. I like the first two in the series just a big more, but I’m moving on to the fourth with eager anticipation.

Jo Goodman knows how to spin a good tale!
Profile Image for Glenda.
741 reviews2 followers
March 30, 2021
I enjoyed this book better than I thought I would. Maggie and Connor's meeting of one another was different. To know that Maggie passed on medical school was a surprise though. Beryl was definitely someone to despise, but in the end was a likable. This was a great read.
80 reviews1 follower
June 9, 2021
Every book is better than the last in this series

I'm looking forward to reading every book by this author. Every book is unique, fun, passionate, interesting, and suspenseful at times.
Profile Image for Twila Leininger.
1,369 reviews1 follower
March 13, 2023
incredible

There is no writing like Jo Goodman’s. I pick the book up and the hours fly with the wind. This novel was very good. I was highly entertained the whole way through. Very romantic! It’s great fun watching Connor and Maggie fall in love!
Profile Image for Daisy.
241 reviews
February 17, 2024
The plot was too contrived. I didn’t even finish it because I didn’t care for the main characters. They both seemed selfish. And I read a spoiler that the OW is redeemed at the end which is one of my book pet peeves.
Profile Image for Letha .
238 reviews
November 19, 2018
Masterpiece

Jo Goodman weaves another life lesson with this comp!located story of broken people and circumstances that becomes a tapestry is pure love.
Profile Image for Julie ambrose.
376 reviews6 followers
November 19, 2018
GreAt read

Read it you will enjoy it . I found I wanted to keep turning g to the next page I'm almost sorry it's ended .

306 reviews2 followers
April 4, 2022
Wow! This is an amazing and enjoyable read. I loved it, it kept me up at night. "I received this book from eBook discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review".
832 reviews
August 7, 2024
good read

With an interesting plot and a bunch of very determined characters who developed into more authentically honest with themselves and their desires, it was a good read. 👍💜
5 reviews
November 16, 2024
Very good

I do not do reviews but it was.a good read a good story very believable and A feel good one.
1,075 reviews2 followers
May 4, 2025
3.5⭐️’s

“𝓣𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮’𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾,” 𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭 𝓼𝓸𝓯𝓽𝓵𝔂. “𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓪 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰.”

Tropes:
🤍Marriage of Convenience
🤍Pregnancy
🤍Hate to Love

⚠️Please check for triggers before proceeding to read⚠️
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